Process for producing pyridine or a substituted pyridine by ammoxidation of terpenes

Abstract

Terpenes are oxidized by contacting the terpene and oxygen with a catalyst. The catalyst may be either (a) a bismuth molybdate or (b) antimony oxide containing iron oxide and/or uranium oxide.

We claim: 
     
       1. A gas phase process for producing pyridine or a substituted pyridine by ammoxidizing a terpene comprising contacting said terpene, oxygen and ammonia in a reaction zone with a catalyst selected from the group consisting of a. a catalytically active complex oxide of bismuth and molybdenum, and   b. a catalytically active complex oxide of antimony oxide containing at least one of iron oxide and uranium oxide.   
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1 wherein said complex oxide of bismuth and molybdenum contains about 0.1-12 atoms of bismuth for each 0.1-12 atoms of molybdenum and enough oxygen to satisfy the valence requirements of the other elements present; and wherein said complex oxide of antimony oxide containing at least one of iron oxide and uranium oxide contains 1-99 atoms of antimony for each 50-1 atoms of iron and each 50-1 atoms of uranium and enough oxygen to satisfy the valence requirements of the other elements present. 
     
     
       3. The process of claim 1 wherein said terpene is limonene.